A single tube nested hanging droplet PCR was developed for detection of cutaneous human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA of the phylogenetic group B1. The nested PCR was compared with a single round PCR method by testing 56 fresh biopsies from Australian skin tumour patients. HPV DNA was detected in 64 % (36/56) of the biopsies by nested PCR and in 30 % (17/56) by single round PCR (P<0.001). HPV DNA was more often detected by nested PCR than by single round PCR in basal cell carcinoma [62 % (16/26) vs. 19 % ; (5/26); P